Who would ever imagine we would have gotten to this point: online learning for every student in the United States of America. As an educator for 17 years, I must say this is one of the most difficult times I’ve experienced. According to a NewsWeek article, a group of NWEA researchers came up with two possible scenarios when discussing the effect of the pandemic,
“… data to project growth trajectories for the students under two scenarios: a "melt," in which students basically gained no ground during the school closures; and a "slide," in which students lost ground academically during the closures at rates similar to those seen over the long summer break.” (Sparks, 2020).
            This might sound discouraging to some parents; however, it also should not deter them from trying to lessen any negative effect a prolonged closing might have on their children returning to school in the fall, Inshallah (God willing). Being an educator, I expect for some of my students to have a summer slide due to a number of different reasons: traveling, lack of supervision, parents’ jobs, mental break, etc. I used to suggest various activities to parents that students can complete during their summer break:

• Participate in their library reading challenge
• Grade level book list
• Online learning resources: Study Island, IXL, Khan Academy, Quill, Kahoot, and Quizziz to name a few.
• Various types of book reports
• Daily or weekly journals
• Sunlight

However, I know during this difficult time, some of these activities may not be doable and it’s time for us to be creative. While lessening loss of work is important, I want parents to understand that our children’s mental health should be paramount. Make sure your child’s (ren) emotionally needs are met because some of them may be struggling to adjust to this new type of learning. Some examples are:

• Daily outside activities, with protection of course.
• Playing card or board games with family members
• Plan zoom sessions with your child and his/her friends; maintaining communication between friends is important to our children, regardless of their age groups.
• Browse the internet/Pinterest for arts and crafts activities.
• Daily family check ins to make sure everyone is OK.

After ensuring ways to make sure our children are mentally healthy, we can focus on their academics. Some school districts throughout the United States are sending home packages to students and have them complete at their pace. I am against this practice because it takes away the face to face contact some students NEED to have with their teachers. How many times, since this pandemic occurred, that we’ve become impatient with our children because they lack knowledge to understand the concept? When this occurs, students can become discouraged and not want to continue. In other districts, teachers are conducting live zoom sessions with their students. I like this way best because it allows students to ask clarifying questions and for teachers to assess who needs additional support. This way is similar to our in-class instruction so it leaves little room for loss of instruction.
Taking this model into account, we can plan to continue learning during the summer time to ensure that our children do not have a huge summer slide once we return in the fall. Some ideas to continue learning are:

• Reach out to your child’s teacher to see if he/she is having any summer class or tutoring session over the summer time.
• Have your older children have summer tutoring sessions on zoom with their friends.
• Participate in our local library or Scholastic reading challenge
• Free online Math resource for students of all grade level.
• Create a summer schedule with your child. I negotiate with my two teenagers (14 and 16) – give me three hours a day for something educational and the rest of the day is for them.
• List of online reading resources
• www.quizizz.com and www.kahoot.com
• Some schools have online subscriptions for their students throughout the summer. Please reach out to find out which resources are available for you.
• For our parents with special needs children, please visit our MACE site. Email: [email protected] and website: www.wearemace.com. MACE (Muslim Advocates for Children with Exceptionalities) was created by Sabria Mills and Rasheedah Shabazz to be a voice to bridge communication between parents and schools, as well as helping parents with exceptional children find additional resources to help their children adapt to any type of environment. They also provide free educational support during this pandemic.

I am a certified teacher with 17 years of education; the last five years I have been working as an assistant principal at Al Falah Academy. I have a Master’s and Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction and English. Please reach out if you have any additional questions about ways we can ensure our students do not fall behind when school resumes: [email protected].

“Come on, we’re going to be late.”

​My mother repeated for the millionth time. 
We were headed to one of her friend’s son’s graduation. 
I didn’t think he’d mind if we were late after all, it wasn’t like we were family. 
But we piled into the car and headed towards the Infinite Energy Center nevertheless.

Up until this point I had only seen small graduations as I had attended a small Islamic school in a shopping plaza. This graduation was being held in the same place that Demi Lovato concerts were held. So I was a little anxious about going. 
Once we arrived my mother’s friend handed us our tickets. It felt surreal to think one day I might have tickets to pass out, to have people cheering my success and accomplishments. We took our seats and waited for his name to be called. Name after name was called until his was said and we cheered and hollered. I doubted he could hear us but that didn’t keep us from enjoying his success too.
 This year I was robbed of this opportunity. COVID-19 took all my “first lasts”. There was no Senior Breakfast. No epic Senior prank wars. No Senior spirit week. No Senior skip day. No Prom. No Senior Night for those of us that played spring sports. But most of all no graduation. No final goodbye after years and years of critical thinking prompts and standardized testing. 
Corona Virus has forced a class of students to seize the moment. We’re never guaranteed tomorrow, so we have to make use of today. 
My heart hurts as I think of all the ways I could have said goodbye to my teachers, classmates, and friends.
Sometimes I imagine a year where “outside” is open and everything went as planned. But we plan and our Creator plans. I may never understand the meaning of this loss, but I do know that everything happens for a reason. And the class of 2020 will forever be remembered as the ones who finished strong. 

​

​The Covid-19 Pandemic has taken the world by surprise.  We are being flooded with information regarding its risks, how it can be passed on to others, and where we should and should not go. It feels as if overnight our lives are no longer in our control. That sense of powerlessness can easily increase our anxiety. Anxiety can be described in a variety of ways but it generally feels like an uncontrollable nervousness that makes it challenging to be at ease. Its side effects can be displayed not only through mood and behavior but also affect your heart rate and can have a negative impact on your health. Although we are currently in an uncertain time there are ways to manage that uneasy edge. Here are 5 ways to manage your anxiety while at home:

1. Have an outlet; each of us is different which means that one thing might work for one person and have no positive effect on someone else. Healthy outlets are prayer, exercising, writing in a journal, talking to loved ones, finding a hobby, drawing, music etc. Anything that allows you to release the emotions that you might not be able to express (in a positive way) is an outlet. It is a good idea to have at least 3 things in rotation to avoid getting bored and to keep a variety going.
2. Check in with a professional. Although we are limited in terms of where we can go, modern technology has made it possible to bring therapy into your home. Tele mental health counseling is available on a variety of platforms. Psychologytoday.com is a great resource to use to find a therapist; it allows you to filter based on your personal needs and wants.
3. Only focus on the things that you can control.  It is very easy to get overwhelmed with all of the information that is being provided to us, so take a deep breath and make sure that you have brushed your teeth, bathed and started your day. It might be helpful to set one attainable goal each day. Setting an easy goal guarantees success and that will no doubt provide a positive sense of accomplishment. Just remember don’t allow yourself to get worked up about things that you are powerless against, instead empower yourself by accomplishing things that are within your grasp.
4. LOG OFF! Sometimes you just have to turn your phone all the way off. Power off. Stop the flow of unnecessary information and the constant stream of other people’s fear and worries. We are living in the day and age of instant information and sometimes that can become too much. So assess yourself regularly in terms of information overload and take a break when needed.
5. Last but certainly not least, do nothing. Take this time to breathe and be with yourself. Be in tune with your thoughts and feelings. Just be present and take advantage of this down time.

This pandemic is affecting us all differently, some people are able to work from home, others have lost their jobs, and children are home with parents that now have to juggle working with teaching and countless other scenarios. With all of the uncertainty it is important to keep you to set realistic expectations for yourself, it is important to be gentle to yourself and it is important to know that this will pass so take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. 

By Khadijah Roberts

My intentions is to be a reminder to others as well as to myself is to put our trust in Allaah (Tawakkul) in all circumstances. Obey Allaah and follow the ways of our beloved prophet Muhammad May The Peace and Blessings Be Upon him Aameen. Alhamdulillah we have been guided and directed in all circumstances through Quran and Sunnah gifted with the salaah, duas, fasting, eating habits, how to sleep, purification etc; All forms of wellness to hold on to. Wellness is now a priority for most people as well as awareness mode; which is a good thing. Alhamdulillah! Allaah created us with a priceless body that has built-in fighting soldiers the commander and chief is the Immune System. The Immune System protects the body against disease or foreign damaging substances. Once upon a time our food was a lot more nutritious. Due to the depleting of the soil the food we eat is not the same. A healthy diet and lifestyle is so important. Supplements in this day and time is a must have. Also support your Immune System with probiotic rich foods. Probiotics support a healthy gut and gut health is directly tied to Immune System health. Did you know that 70% and 80% of the body’s immune cells are housed in the gut? Drink plenty of clean water(not contained in toxic plastic bottles). Sleep is vital! Lack of sleep can weaken your Immune System. Exercise or do some type of body movements or brisk walks is an important role. In my opinion another supplement that I don’t go without is certified pure therapeutic essential oils. At times we may have immune challenges but keep maintaining your Wellness Lifestyle. As for those who have not; this is a Wake Up Call. It’s nothing to fear but to be aware and know that we should be doing or at least striving to do most of the things mentioned regardless of any circumstances. So with awareness take action by washing your hands frequently. Be aware of not touching your face towards your mouth without sanitizing your hands. Sanitize your work and home environment. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze with tissue or into your upper sleeve if you don’t have tissue. Be mindful not to spread germs. I truly hope this was a benefit! 

Disclamer: It’s important to keep in mind my role as a health coach is only to guide and mentor. The goal in mind is to coach a positive wellness lifestyle. All information provided is intended for educational and informational purposes only and can not take the place of professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed or registered practitioner. No information provided has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to be considered medical or psychological advice. I assume no liability! Khadijah Roberts, HC

​A dose for the Soul: “Put Your Trust in Allaah and Throughout your day make Dua!" May Allaah grant us good health and protect us from harm Allahumma Ameen sali ala Muhammad Aameen!!!

By Sakeena Abdul-Hakeem

​The kids call me “aunty.” What else are they expected to call a nearly 40 year old American lady who suddenly shows up in their third grade classroom? After living in Senegal, West Africa for two years, looking for educational opportunities for adults, I was dissatisfied with the options. My understanding of Wolof was too rudimentary to attend lectures by the resident scholars. And my Arabic knowledge had too many holes in its foundation to be useful. I was attending a one hour Arabic class, four days a week, but the main focus was on memorizing poetry. I struggled through basic Arabic conversation, but could parrot lines of ancient prose. I was no closer to my goal of understanding the language of the Quran than when I’d first arrived in Africa.

That’s when the director of a local private school invited me to attend the El Hajj Abdullahi Niass Institute. I’d thought for sure that the local K-12 schools were for children up to age 18, just as they are in the a United States. Boy was I wrong.

Have you ever thought about going back to school? What did that look like for you? Perhaps you can enroll in night classes or weekend courses at your local college. Maybe you’re looking to achieve a financial goal that earning another degree or a certificate will ensure. Not for me. I was going all the way back. Back to primary school.

After an initial assessment, which I didn’t realize I was taking until half way through, I was placed in 3rd grade. I thought I was just having a polite conversation with the principal. In Arabic, he asked me my name and where I was from. He asked if I could recite a Hadith, a surah from the Quran, and if I knew the difference between verbs and nouns. He scribbled a quick note and directed my young translator to show me the 3rd grade classroom. I thought perhaps I’d peek in, greet the teacher and make arrangements to start attending class the following week. Nope! The teacher rearranged the rows of girls and squeezed me onto a narrow bench besides two of them. This was to be my first day of class.

As I sat in the classroom, I noticed some major differences between our American educational system and theirs. Instead of colorful posters pasted to the walls, they were bare. All attention was focused on the huge blackboard in the front of the room. There were about 80 students to one teacher. And some of these kids didn’t look like 8 year olds- what I would consider to be a 3rd grader. In fact, a man sitting two rows over from me had a speckled beard!

What could I learn in 3rd grade in Africa? I really had to humble my nearly 40 year old ego to learn from Muhammad, which I would discover was the name of almost every teacher in the entire school. We baked in the hot classrooms without so much as a fan, but no one complained. The students stood at silent attention whenever the teacher, or a visiting guest, would enter the classroom. If the teacher was in class before them, the students stood at the door of the classroom waiting for permission to enter. They ooh’d and aah’d in appreciation whenever a fellow classmates was called upon to recite a lesson from the Quran. They stood to respond whenever the teacher called on them. The girls took turns sweeping the classroom each morning while the boys cleaned the blackboard and arranged the desks properly.

There was a lot more to learn here than just reading and writing. There was a wholistic approach to education. It was more so about respect, good manners, honoring knowledge and it’s teacher- developing a whole person as opposed to just the mind- which seems to be the problem with much of western education. Many of the students had completed the memorization of the entire Holy Quran before enrolling in Arabic school, hence the varied ages of the students.

Although, initially it took some getting used to, I really benefited from Arabic school in Senegal. I have a greater appreciation for traditional knowledge and it’s transmission. I believe every person who has the will, should take the opportunity to enjoy learning traditional Islamic knowledge in Africa. The holes in my Arabic foundational knowledge have been filled and I can see great strides in my understanding of Quran. If this is your goal, you too can achieve it, no matter what age. It just takes going back to the basics. All the way back.

By Atiba Jones

​Only 59% of black males graduate public high school in this nation
And only 17% go on to earn Bachelor’s Degrees, is the reality of the situation
And even blacks with degrees, statistically earn far less than their uneducated white counterparts throughout their career’s duration
So it’s no wonder why African-Americans are far more likely to end up on probation
And consistently have the highest percentages in prison AKA the new plantation
Yes, we’ve come a long way, but I believe there’s still need for a lot more salvation
What happens to the other 41% of black males who didn’t complete high school?
What happens to the other 83% without a Bachelors to use as a tool?
Are they to just be forgotten about as if the problem is merely minuscule?
Our educational system has failed them, and no, it’s not cool
It’s time for an alternative system that goes beyond the surface
It’s time to interrupt their cycles of poverty, crime, incarceration and lack of purpose
It’s time for our youth to be exposed to agriculture, vocational trades, entrepreneurship and humanitarian service
The art of service has been used for centuries as a tool for character development and spiritual training
It instills humility, gratitude and decreases complaining
It rids one of arrogance & hypocrisy and leaves nothing but purity remaining 
It focuses one on benefiting others rather than seeking that which is merely entertaining
And the beauty of agriculture is that it reconnects us with nature and our natural state
It helps us to understand where the food comes from that ends up on our plate
It helps us to experience, through our hands, what God can Create
And it allows us to feed our communities healthy foods from what we collectively cultivate
Over the past few decades, from high schools we’ve seen vocational education gradually disappear
“You have to go to college” is all that we’ve begun to hear
And perceptions of inferiority from not having a degree has become a real fear
While many tradesman earn far more than the average college graduate per year
So why is it made to seem as if the only options are either college or the street?
With the only exception being the possibility of becoming  a professional athlete
Or maybe you can make it by learning how to rap some destructive lyrics to a beat
Presenting these as the only options is blatant deceit
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to college, however, it’s not the only way to economically compete
And if you don’t have a degree, there’s no need to feel as if you’re somehow incomplete
And besides this, entrepreneurs are consistently the wealthiest people on Earth
And they create situations for children to inherit enterprises at birth
Beyond money, entrepreneurship helps one to discover their true worth
It shows you that you can build and lead
You can create jobs for those in need
But the key is to not fall into the trap of arrogance or greed
Because the objective is to save ourselves so that we can save our families and others
So that we can uplift our sisters and inspire our brothers
Provide hope and support for all the single mothers
So this is not just about some economic or material pursuit
It’s about radically changing the trajectory of the poor and destitute
Providing a new career path for the dope boy and the prostitute
Snatching up misguided youth from out of the streets and showing them that there’s a different route
And this, my brothers and sisters, has sparked the coming of SAVE Institute

​

​The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise dramatically within the U.S., indicating
that the disease is more contagious and spreads more quickly than the seasonal flu. Although
anyone can become infected, high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic medical
conditions are more greatly impacted. With an estimated 10% to 20% of cases experiencing
severe symptoms, hospitals and healthcare staff run the risk of becoming overburdened and not
able to provide adequate care for those who need it most. Add to this scenario the fact that the
novel coronavirus appears to have a considerably higher mortality rate than the seasonal flu and
that there is no vaccine or proven treatment at this point, then it becomes imperative that
preventive measures are utilized to slow down its spread. The burden of doing this falls not only
on the shoulders of the government and public health professionals, but on the general
population as well. The good news is that the average person can help to significantly curb the
spread of this disease by proactively engaging in social distancing.
Social distancing may be the word of the moment, yet its meaning and actual
implementation might still be vague for some people. Put simply, it is the public health practice
of maintaining a physical distance between people in order to prevent the transmission of
disease. On a personal level, it involves staying at home as much as possible and avoiding
crowds and large gatherings. In the case of COVID-19, an infected person can remain
asymptomatic for up to 2 weeks, potentially exposing countless others to infection. However, if
this same person has been practicing social distancing, then this can significantly lower those
opportunities for passing on the virus.

Certain lifestyle adjustments should be made in order to practice social distancing at this
time. Those who can work from home should do so and shopping trips to get essentials should
be strategic so that they are limited in frequency and duration. If one does encounter another
person, say during a weekly grocery run, then experts recommend keeping a safe distance of 6 ft.
from each other. For those whose jobs are considered essential and cannot work from home,
effort can still be made on a personal level to keep a safe distance from others in any
environment. In addition, frequent and thorough handwashing should be coupled with social
distancing for maximum benefit. All of this is done regardless of infection status, in order to
reduce the opportunities for exposure. Those who do become exposed to COVID-19, for
example through contact with an infected individual or recent travel, will have to quarantine
themselves using stricter isolation measures.
Social distancing is a public health practice that involves the community making some
behavioral changes and sacrificing in order to curb the spread of disease. In the case of the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is the primary tool available to protect ourselves from this dangerous
virus right now. And at a time when the situation may seem overwhelming, it gives people the
power to make a difference for themselves, their loved ones, and the greater community.